Leon Turnbull Photography

I have not been hiking much lately. I went to Pit River Falls a couple weeks ago (a very short hike). Nothing last week. Almost did not go again this week. I slept well enough, but it is hard getting up so early in the morning. Nonetheless, I managed to drag myself out of bed and hit the road. I would be returning to Lower East Fork Falls in Tahoe National Forest.

The hike down to the river was much more difficult than I remembered. It was downright treacherous. I don’t remember it being treacherous. I think it is because the ground was much harder (meaning, less traction), and the leaves on the ground made it slick and dangerous. I don’t think I had those conditions last time I did this hike. I almost turned around because of the difficulty, but I persevered and got down to the river. I did not use my rope to get down this time. Last time, I know I used it, but I don’t remember where. It was not “that bad”.

I really really wanted to try to get down to Burnett Canyon this time. That was the main reason I wanted to do this hike again. Burnett Canyon was still flowing decent, I could see that, but I could not get down to the waterfall. I was prepared well enough, or so I thought, but it was just too difficult. The canyon becomes very narrow before you get down to the falls with sheer cliffs on each side. I think the only way would be to swim it (and I’m not sure that is feasible), but it was definitely too cold to swim today (34 degrees). Maybe I will have to come back next summer when it is warm and try again. I don’t know. It is a thorn in my side and I really wanted to slay it this time, but it just did not happen. The time was running out and the sun was coming. If I did not turn around, I would not even get photos of the other waterfall. I retreated to Lower East Fork Falls, a very magnificent 50 ft. high waterfall, and it was still flowing well.

I did do something different this time: I went down to the creek level and took photos of the waterfall from there. It was not too hard to get down, I’m not sure why I did not do it last time. I think I was just happy to see it at all. This time, I made sure to get down to the bottom and explore the waterfall completely.

While I was down at the creek, the unthinkable almost happened. My GPS was laying on the rocks, and I stupidly knocked it with my tripod while I was taking photos. The GPS slid down towards the river on the slick rock. It would have gone in, except that it just happened to hit my backpack. I am certain that God stopped it for me (thank you, Lord). This incident brings up a very good lesson, though: Always have a backup navigation device (whatever it may be). I admit I am sometimes (but not often) lax with this, but if my GPS was lost in the river, could I have found my way back up the mountain? Perhaps, perhaps not. If you are hiking off trail, a GPS is a necessity. If you are always hiking on trail, you may think you don’t need a backup. You may think you don’t need a GPS at all, and if you are just hiking on the Lower Yosemite Falls trail, obviously you don’t need one. But what about Bassi Falls? I know of someone that got lost on this very easy half mile trail and had to call for helicopter rescue. This is inexcusable! Don’t be that person. Always have a navigation device and backup.

Anyway, the hike back up the mountain was extremely strenuous. I’m still hurting, as I write this. It was a fabulous day in Tahoe National Forest.